Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-E accident near Warrenton, Virginia, May 28, 1994
On May 28, 1994 at about 12:50 pm local time, a Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-E, registered N3200H, was substantially damaged in an accident near Warrenton, Virginia (Flying Circus airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot did not maintain directional control of the airplane during an aborted takeoff, which resulted in the airplane veering off the runway and nosing over. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of experience on grass strips in this make and model airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 28, 1994 · about 12:50 pm local time
- Place
- Warrenton, Virginia · Flying Circus
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ercoupe (Eng & Research Corp.) 415-E
- Registration
- N3200H · no longer on the register · serial 3825
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, THE 1946 ERCOUPE WAS NOT ACCELERATING AS THE PILOT WAS ACCUSTOMED, AND HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF. DURING THE ABORT, THE AIRPLANE VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT HAD A TOTAL OF 21 HOURS IN THE ERCOUPE, AND ALL PREVIOUS FLIGHTS WERE ON HARD SURFACE RUNWAYS. THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST DEPARTURE FROM A GRASS STRIP IN THIS AIRPLANE.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 21 in this make and model; 3,300 as pilot in command; 2,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,714 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 13, 1993; 423 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C85-12 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,500 ft by 250 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,500 ft
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Observation at 12:50 pm from IAD, 27 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.